Zoning ordinance passed on animal display issue
A proposed zoning ordinance amendment to display elk, deer and moose at the Water?s Edge Restaurant in Rogers City almost didn?t make it through the first reading at Monday?s Rogers City Council meeting ? and one has to wonder if the issue will be passed by council members who are feeling strong tugs from the business community and citizens on the issue. The amendment did eventually receive approval for the first reading, which allows the city to advertise the changes to the ordinance and set a public hearing. Final approval would have to come after the public hearing.
The Rogers City Planning Commission reviewed the proposal from restaurant owner Norm Arlt, September 15. There was a public hearing and a recommendation made to council to adopt the amendment.
IT RECEIVED a cool reception Monday after Rogers City Councilman Jim Sinclair made a motion and didn?t receive a second. Mayor pro-tem Deb Greene, filling in for the excused mayor Beach Hall, declared the motion dead for a lack of support. The much talked about animal display seemed to have reached another dead-end, much as it did a few years ago, with no support offered from Greene or councilman Karl Heidemann. Ralph Baker would later say he didn?t hear Greene say the motion was dead. Greene said in her 14 years of serving on the council, never have so many people spoken out on an issue as much as this one.
While Greene was collecting petition signatures to force a referendum on the Lakeview infrastructure project, she asked people what they thought of the display and not one of them said they were in favor of it out of about 150 people. ?No one has come in here opposed to it, verbally,? said Sinclair, looking out in the audience in council chambers.
?So you think that they have to be in this room? They don?t need to tell me here for me to know what their feelings are,? Greene responded. ?They are adamant against animals in the city, and changing the ordinance for one person.? Sinclair said he talked to eight people who were against it, seven of whom are from out of town.
GREENE WOULD prefer to do something on a temporary basis for Arlt because she believes the zoning ordinance would open ?a big can of worms.? After some questions of whether the motion could be reintroduced, Baker put the issue back on the table, with wording that was different than Sinclair?s first motion. It was supported by Sinclair and followed by more discussion. Arlt already has received approval from the Department of Natural Resources and District Health Department No. 4, as well as the Michigan Department of Agriculture to display the animals next to his restaurant. ?It just seem horrendous, what you have to do to comply with this,? said Heidemann.
?Doing all the things that are required with fencing, needing all the approval from all the governmental organizations, and so forth,? said Heidemann. ?We don?t want to be in the business of amending ordinances for one individual,? he continued. Heidemann asked city attorney Mike Vogler if a variance could be granted, but it doesn?t appear as if the city can do that.
DRIFTWOOD MOTEL owner Jim Dempsey was at the meeting to support his business neighbor. ?I still look at it from the business side,? Dempsey said. ?We have a business and he thinks he needs this.? The Water?s Edge employs about 30 people he said, and it would be a ?black eye? for Rogers City if it closed. ?There?s been a lot of young ladies that have got their college money from working at the restaurant,? Dempsey said. ?The economics in Rogers City are terrible. This is something he wants to try, I don?t see the damage. I don?t see any harm in doing it. I?m right next door. I?m not going to risk my business for him, but I am going to support my neighbor.?
Dempsey told council members they had an obligation to support businesses. ?Without a strong business community, Rogers City is going to dry up and shrivel away. We need strong business. We?re not getting rich. We?re surviving, that?s all we?re doing.?
HEIDEMANN SAID, ?I agree that council needs to support business in Rogers City. I don?t think if we voted against this that would mean we were not supporting business in Rogers City. ?Unfortunately, I can?t always say that I hear from the community that you apply the same business acumen to the restaurant that you do to your other business,? said Heidemann.
?I don?t mean to criticize you, and I?m not going to tell you how to run your business, but it seems t
Heidemann said he wanted to support the restaurant but wished there were another way to do it. There are other sources in the community that are available to help businesses, he said. ?We?ve been there since 1985,? said Arlt, raising his voice in an irritated fashion. ?The place has never made money, so if you think you can come down there and show us how to do it, I would love to hear your suggestions.?
DISCUSSION FINALLY wound down and the roll call vote was unanimous for the reading of the first amendment. Heidemann followed up with some final comments for Arlt. ?I hope I didn?t say anything out of line, Norm,? Heidemann said. ?I really appreciate that restaurant, and I appreciate the investment you have made to improve it. ?They are very noticeable and appreciated. I think if you are willing to make the investments to do this, I applaud that also. Thank you for your commitment to Rogers City.?